Rotational drive apparatus with ratcheting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A hand held, hand operated apparatus for rotating, or spinning, rotatably oscillating and/or inducing back and forth longitudinal movement in a device, such as an elongated medical device. A drive shaft of the hand held, hand operated rotational drive apparatus includes a ratcheting mechanism capable of enabling oscillating (repeated forward and reverse) rotation of a device that has been coupled thereto when there is little or no resistance on the rotated device, and of enabling an actuator to return to a position that will enable further forward, or driving, rotation of the drive shaft and the rotated device when resistance on the rotated device prevents the rotated device and the drive shaft from rotating in a reverse direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.15/890,223, filed on Feb. 6, 2018 and titled ROTATIONAL DRIVE APPARATUSWITH RATCHETING MECHANISM (“the '223 Application”), now U.S. Pat. No.10,352,411, issued Jul. 16, 2019. The '223 Application includes a claimfor the benefit of priority made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to theFeb. 6, 2017 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/455,534, titled ROTATIONAL DRIVE APPARATUS WITH RATCHETING MECHANISM(“the '534 Provisional Application”).

The '223 Application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/076,170, filed on Nov. 8, 2013 and titledAPPARATUS FOR ROTATING MEDICAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE APPARATUS,AND ASSOCIATED METHODS (“the '170 Application”), pending, which claimsthe benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the Nov. 8, 2012filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/723,781,titled APPARATUSES FOR MANUALLY ROTATION ELONGATED MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS,SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME AND METHODS FOR USING ELONGATED MEDICALINSTRUMENTS (“the '781 Provisional Application”). The '170 Applicationis also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/039,831, filed on Mar. 3, 2011 and titled APPARATUS FOR ROTATINGMEDICAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS(“the '831 Application”), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,107,691, issued Aug. 18,2015. The '831 Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/907,926, filed on Oct. 19, 2010 and titledAPPARATUS FOR ROTATING MEDICAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE APPARATUS,AND ASSOCIATED METHODS (“the '926 Application”), now U.S. Pat. No.8,845,621, issued Sep. 20, 2014. The entire disclosure of each of theforegoing applications is hereby incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to hand-held, hand-operatedapparatuses and methods for rotating, or spinning, rotatably oscillatingand/or inducing back and forth longitudinal movement in various devices,including, but not limited to, elongated medical instruments. Morespecifically, this disclosure relates to a hand-held, hand-operatedrotational drive apparatus with a drive shaft that includes a ratchetingmechanism capable of enabling oscillating (repeated forward and reverse)rotation of a device that has been coupled thereto when there is littleor no resistance on the rotated device, and of enabling an actuator toreturn to a position that will enable further forward, or driving,rotation of the drive shaft and the rotated device when resistance onthe rotated device prevents the rotated device and the drive shaft fromrotating in a reverse direction.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure includes various embodiments of anapparatus for causing an elongated medical instrument to rotate, orspin, about its longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus may be referred toherein as a “rooter.” In a specific embodiment, a rooter includes ahousing, a rotatable element within the housing, retention elements forsecuring the rotatable element in place relative to the housing, and anactuator capable of causing the rotatable element to rotate within thehousing. The rotatable element may also be referred to as a “driveshaft.” An apparatus according to this disclosure may also include acoupling element at (e.g., coupled to, etc.) a distal end of therotatable element.

The actuator includes a ratcheting mechanism, which may enable rotationof the rotatable element in both directions (i.e., forward and reverseor clockwise and counterclockwise) about its longitudinal axis when lessthan a threshold rotational resistance is present on a rotated device,such as an elongated medical instrument, that has been coupled to thecoupling element at the distal end of the rotatable element, and, thus,less than a threshold rotational resistance is present on the rotatableelement. The ratcheting mechanism may also enable the actuator to returnto a starting position from which the actuator can drive rotation of therotatable element, even when the rotational resistance on the rotateddevice and/or the rotatable element equals or exceeds the thresholdrotational resistance and, thus, prevents the rotated device and therotatable element from oscillating, or from rotating in a direction(e.g., reverse, etc.) that would otherwise enable the actuator to returnto its starting position.

The coupling element may be capable of engaging a specific type ofdevice or any of a variety of different types of devices. Withoutlimitation, the coupling element may be capable of engaging one or moredifferent types of elongated medical instruments, such as a drill bit, abiopsy needle, a needle, a trocar, a cannula and/or stylet, a catheter,a wire, a macerator, or another elongated instrument that may be used toenable or effect a medical procedure within the body of a subject. Invarious embodiments, at least one end of the coupling element, which isaccessible at or from a distal end of the housing of the apparatus, maybe configured to receive and retain the device that is to be rotated.

The rotatable element may be disposed within an interior of the housingin a manner that enables the rotatable element to spin about itslongitudinal axis. As the rotatable element rotates within the housing,which may remain substantially stationary (e.g., within a user's grasp,etc.), a device, such as an elongated medical instrument engaged by thecoupling element may rotate. In some embodiments, the rotatable elementmay comprise an elongated member with a longitudinal axis, about whichthe rotatable element may rotate, or spin. In a more specificembodiment, the rotatable element may include a helical ridge that mayenable the rotatable element to be rotationally driven.

An actuator may be associated with the rotatable element in such a wayas to cause the rotatable element to rotate. In a specific embodiment,the actuator may include an external element configured for manualoperation, as well as an internal element that interacts with therotatable element. The actuator may be disposed around at least aportion of the rotatable element. In embodiments where the rotatableelement has a helical ridge, the internal element of the actuator may bepositioned between longitudinally adjacent locations of the helicalridge. In other embodiments, an actuator may include one or more groovesthat are configured complementarily to and cooperate with the helicalridge. The actuator may move longitudinally relative to the rotatableelement (e.g., in directions substantially parallel to the rotationalaxis of the rotatable element, etc.), while the internal element of theactuator and the helical ridge of the rotatable element interact withone another to cause the rotatable element, as well as any medicalelement engaged thereby, to rotate, or spin.

Longitudinal movement of the actuator relative to the housing may beenabled by one or more elongated slots that extend through the housing,along at least a portion of its length, and by one or more externalelements and one or more intermediate elements of the actuator. Eachintermediate element of the actuator may extend through a correspondingelongated slot. The corresponding external element of the actuator maybe moved (e.g., manually, by way of an associated handle, with a motor,etc.) along at least a portion of the length of the elongated slot todrive movement of the actuator along a length of the rotatable element.In embodiments where the external element and/or the intermediateelement pivot relative to the actuator, the axis about which suchpivoting occurs may be oriented perpendicular to and extend through anaxis about which the rotatable element rotates (e.g., a longitudinalaxis of the rotatable element, etc.). This configuration may impart therooter with stability and prevent binding as the actuator moves back andforth along the length of the rotatable element. The elongated slot mayreceive an intermediate element of the actuator, holding the actuator inplace as it is moved along the length of the rotatable element.

The ratcheting mechanism of the actuator may enable the actuator toreturn to a starting position along the rotational element and, thus,enable further driving rotation of the rotational element, even whenrotational resistance on a device that has been coupled to the couplingelement prevents the rotated device and the rotational element fromoscillating, or from rotating in reverse direction. In some embodiments,the ratcheting mechanism includes a distal member of the actuator, aproximal member of the actuator, and a biasing member (e.g., a spring,etc.). The distal member may be coupled to a movable element of ahandle. The distal member may be capable of sliding along a length ofthe rotatable element without directly causing the rotatable element torotate. The distal member may also include engagement features capableof engaging the proximal member and holding the proximal memberrotationally stationary when the movable element of the handle forcesthe distal member in a proximal direction along the length of therotatable element. As the proximal member is held rotationallystationary over the rotational element while it is forced in theproximal direction along the length of the rotatable element by thedistal member, it may engage the rotational element in a manner thatdrives rotation of the rotational element (e.g., by receiving orengaging a helical ridge of a rotatable element, etc.). Upon releasingthe movable element of the handle, the biasing member may force theproximal member and the distal member in a distal direction along thelength of the rotatable element. If the force the biasing element exertson the proximal member exceeds a rotational resistance on a rotateddevice that has been coupled to the coupling element (and, thus, to therotational element), the proximal member may remain rotationallystationary over the rotatable element, distal movement of the proximalmember of the ratcheting mechanism may drive the rotational element andthe rotated device in a reverse direction, thus enabling oscillation ofthe rotatable element and of the rotated device. If the rotationalresistance on the rotated device exceeds the biasing force the biasingmember exerts on the proximal member, the engagement features of theproximal member may disengage corresponding engagement features on thedistal member of the ratcheting mechanism, enabling the proximal memberto rotate over the rotational element and, thus, enabling the biasingmember to force the proximal member distally without limited rotation orno rotation of the rotatable element (i.e., the proximal member, ratherthan the rotatable element, may spin when the rotatable element movesdistally), and forcing the distal member of the ratcheting mechanism andthe moveable member of the handle distally as well.

This disclosure also includes systems for effecting rotationalprocesses. A system of this disclosure includes a rooter, as well as arotated device (e.g., an elongated medical instrument, etc.) capable ofbeing coupled with the coupling element of the rooter. The rooter may bemanually operable. As the rooter operates, it causes the rotated deviceto rotate or spin in a drive direction and, depending upon an amount ofrotational resistance on the rotated device, it may cause the rotateddevice to spin in a reverse direction (which may enable oscillation ofthe rotated device). If at least a threshold amount of rotationalresistance is present on the rotated device, the ratcheting mechanismmay enable the rotational element and the rotated device to remainstationary, while enabling the proximal and distal members of theactuator and any moveable element of a handle associated therewith toreturn to a starting position.

In another aspect, methods for rotating, or spinning, devices (e.g.,elongated medical instruments, etc.) are disclosed, as are methods forinducing oscillatory (i.e., alternating between clockwise andcounterclockwise rotation) or vibration-like movement, longitudinalmovement (e.g., a back-and-forth hammering action, etc.) and other typesof movement in rotated devices. In such a method, an elongated medicalinstrument is associated with (e.g., engaged by, etc.) a couplingelement of a rooter. Operation of an actuator of the rooter (e.g.,manually, with a user's thumb or finger on a moveable element of ahandle; with a motor; etc.) causes the rotatable element, along with therotated device that has been secured in place relative to the rotatableelement, to rotate or spin in a forward direction. The rotatable elementmay be rotated continuously in a single direction (e.g., clockwise orcounterclockwise), or it may be rotated in an alternating or oscillatingfashion (i.e., one direction, then another).

In embodiments where rotational resistance on the rotated deviceprevents it from rotating in a reverse direction (e.g., is equal to orgreater than a threshold rotational resistance, etc.), the ratchetingmechanism of the rooter may enable the actuator (i.e., its proximal anddistal members) to disengage and to return to their starting positions.

In some embodiments, movement of the rotatable element of a rooter andany elongated medical instrument coupled thereto may be accompanied bylongitudinal movement of the rotatable element and any elongated medicalinstrument in one or more directions. When the rotatable element isoscillated, this longitudinal movement may include a repeatedback-and-forth movement, inducing a hammering action in the rotatableelement and any elongated medical instrument that has been coupledthereto. This hammering action may be used alone or in conjunction withoscillation of an elongated medical instrument to facilitate itsintroduction into or through a structure (e.g., a blockage, such asarterial plaque; a calcification; bone; etc.).

Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, ofthe disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of skill inthe art from consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanyingdrawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of rooter of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of rooter shown by FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are, respectively, bottom, distal end, and proximalend views of a housing of the embodiment of rooter depicted by FIGS. 1and 2;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are, respectively, side, distal end, and proximalend views of a rotatable element of the embodiment of rooter shown inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are side, rear, and front views, respectively, of acap of the embodiment of rooter illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are, respectively, side, distal end, and proximalend views of a proximal retention element of the embodiment of rootershown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6D is a cross-section taken through the length of the proximalretention element depicted by FIGS. 6A-6C;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are side, distal end, and proximal end views of adistal retention element of the embodiment of rooter illustrated byFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8A is an exploded side view showing an embodiment of an actuator ofa rooter according to this disclosure, including a distal member and aproximal member that may engage and disengage one another;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the distal member of the embodiment ofactuator shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is a cross-section through the proximal member of the embodimentof actuator shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8D is a perspective view of the proximal member of the embodimentof actuator shown in FIG. 8A;

FIGS. 8E and 8F are end views of the proximal member of the embodimentof actuator shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8G shows the distal and proximal members of the embodiment ofactuator of FIG. 8A in abutting, engaged positions;

FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of actuator depicted by FIG. 8A in itsstarting position over a distal end of the rotational element of theembodiment of rooter illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 shows the manner in which a biasing element is associated withthe proximal member of the embodiment of actuator shown in FIG. 8A; and

FIG. 11 provides a partial perspective cutaway view illustrating theembodiment of actuator shown in FIG. 8A in its starting position withthe housing or a rooter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a rooter 10 thatincorporates teachings of this disclosure is illustrated. The rooter 10includes a housing 20, a rotatable element 40, a distal retentionelement 60 and a proximal retention element 70, and an actuator 90.Either or both of the distal retention element 60 and the proximalretention element 70 may couple a device that is to be rotated (e.g., anelongated medical instrument, etc), or a “rotated device,” to therotatable element 40; accordingly, the distal retention element 60 andthe proximal retention element 70 may be referred to as a “couplingelement.”

The housing 20, which is also shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, is an elongatedelement with an exterior 22 and a hollow interior 24. In the depictedembodiment, the housing 20 is cylindrical in shape, with a longitudinalaxis 21 extending centrally through the length of the housing 20. Thehousing 20 includes a distal end 26 and an opposite, proximal end 30. Alongitudinal slot 34 extends along a portion of the length of thehousing 20.

The distal end 26, which is the end of the housing 20 that may belocated farthest from an individual during use of the rooter 10 (FIGS. 1and 2), is partially closed, as depicted by FIG. 3B. In a specificembodiment, the distal end 26 may include a circumferential lip 27 thatdefines an opening 28, which extends through the housing 20, from itsexterior 22 to its interior 24. The opening 28 may be centered about thelongitudinal axis 21 of the housing 20.

As seen in FIG. 3C, the proximal end 30 of the housing 20, which may belocated closest to the individual during operation of the rooter 10, mayinclude an opening 32 that exposes the interior 24 of the housing 20. Insome embodiments, the proximal end 30 of the housing 20 may beconfigured to receive a cap 56 (FIGS. 5A-5C), which may at leastpartially close the opening 32 at the proximal end 30.

The longitudinal slot 34, illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3C, extendsthrough a wall of the housing 20, from the exterior 22 of the housing 20to the interior 24 of the housing 10. In the embodiment depicted by FIG.3A, the longitudinal slot 34 is substantially linear. A distal end 36 ofthe longitudinal slot 34 may be located adjacent to, but proximallyspaced apart from, the distal end 26 of the housing 20. An opposite,proximal end 38 of the longitudinal slot 34 is located at or near (i.e.,distally spaced apart from) the proximal end 30 of the housing 20.

The rotatable element 40 of the embodiment of the rooter 10 (FIGS. 1 and2) illustrated by FIGS. 4A-4C is an elongated element that is configuredto be assembled with the housing 20 (FIGS. 3A-3C) of the rooter 10. Insome embodiments, the rotatable element 40 may be tubular and, thus,include a conduit 55 extending through a portion of its length orthrough its entire length. A longitudinal axis 41 of the rotatableelement 40 extends centrally or substantially centrally through a lengthof the rotatable element 40. In embodiments where the rotatable element40 includes a conduit 55, the conduit 55 and the longitudinal axis 41 ofthe rotatable element 40 may be aligned (e.g., concentric, etc.).

In embodiments where the rotatable element 40 includes a conduit 55, theconduit 55 may enable flow communication between the interior of ahollow device (e.g., an elongated medical instrument, such as a needle,catheter, etc.) to be coupled to the rooter 10 and a separate flowfacilitating apparatus (e.g., a syringe, an aspiration device, andinfusion device, a vacuum line, etc.).

In some embodiments, the conduit 55 through the rotatable element 40 maybe configured to receive the device. The conduit 55 may be configured insuch a way that a portion of the device may extend partially orcompletely through a length of the rotatable element 40. In otherembodiments, the conduit 55 may serve as an intermediate channel betweenthe device and the flow facilitating apparatus.

In the depicted embodiment, the rotatable element 40 includes anintermediate portion 45, as well as a distal portion 42 and a proximalportion 50 at opposite ends of the intermediate portion 45.

The intermediate portion 45, which may be generally cylindrical inshape, includes a rotation facilitator 47. In the illustratedembodiment, the rotation facilitator comprises a helical ridge 47, whichprotrudes from an outer surface 46 of the intermediate portion 45. Inparticular, the helical ridge 47 may wrap circumferentially around theintermediate portion 45. The helical ridge 47 may be continuous, asillustrated, or it may comprise a discontinuous structure. The helicalridge 47 extends along at least a portion of the length of theintermediate portion 45. In some embodiments, the helical ridge 47 mayextend along only a part of the intermediate portion 45, as in thedepicted embodiment, where the ends of the helical ridge 47 are spacedapart from corresponding ends of the intermediate portion 45.

The pitch of the helical ridge 47 may be configured to impart the rooter10 with a desired number of rotations per stroke (i.e., full movement ofthe actuator 190 along the length of the rotatable element 40). Forexample, a helical ridge 47 with a relatively large pitch may cause therotatable element 40 to rotate more slowly, with greater torque, andwith fewer revolutions per stroke (e.g., about 1½ revolutions perstroke, about 1 revolution per stroke, etc.) than a helical ridge 47with a smaller pitch. When faster rotation or an increase in revolutionsper stroke (e.g., five revolutions per stroke or more, etc.) is desired,the pitch of the helical ridge 47 may be decreased.

The helical ridge 47 may be configured in a manner that facilitates theuse of certain processes in the manufacture of the rotatable element 40.For example, one or more surfaces of the helical ridge 47 may beflattened to facilitate the use of injection molding processes tomanufacture the rotatable element 40.

The distal portion 42 of the rotatable element 40 may also becylindrical in shape. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the distalportion 42 of the rotatable element 40 has a smaller diameter than theintermediate portion 45 of the rotatable element 40. Thus, acircumferential ledge 44 is present at the boundary between the distalportion 42 and the intermediate portion 45. The distal portion 42 mayalso be configured to pass through the opening 28 in the distal end 26of the housing 20 (FIGS. 3A and 3C), and to protrude from the distal end26. The distal portion 42 may be configured to engage or be engaged bythe distal retention element 60 (FIGS. 7A-7C). In this regard, a distalportion 42 of some embodiments of a rotatable element 40 of a rooter 10may include one or more retention features 43, such as the helicalthread shown in FIG. 4A.

The proximal portion 50 of the rotatable element 40 may likewise have acylindrical shape. In some embodiments, the proximal portion 50 may beconfigured to protrude beyond the proximal end 30 of the housing 20 of arooter 10. The proximal portion 50 may be configured to engage or beengaged by the proximal retention element 70 (FIGS. 6A-6D). Suchengagement may, in some embodiments, be at least partially enabled by atleast one retention feature 52, such as the helical thread illustratedby FIG. 4A.

A circumferential rim 54, which extends around and protrudes from theouter surface 46 of the rotatable element 40, may delimit, or define aboundary between, the intermediate portion 45 of the rotatable element40 and its proximal portion 50. The circumferential rim 54 may provide astop for a proximal member 120 of an actuator 190 (FIGS. 8A-8D) thatcooperates with the rotatable element 40 and is configured to cause therotatable element 40 to rotate about its longitudinal axis 41.

In some embodiments, a rooter 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) may include a cap 56configured to cooperate with the circumferential rim 54 to retain therotatable element 40 within the interior of the housing 20. Anembodiment of the cap 56 that may be used as part of the rooter 10(FIGS. 1 and 2) is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. The cap 56 may be configured tobe disposed over the opening 32 (FIGS. 3A and 3C) in the proximal end 30of the housing 20. In a specific embodiment, the cap 56 may include areceptacle 57 that receives the proximal end 30 of the housing 20. Aninterior surface of an end 58 of the cap 56 may be configured to abutthe circumferential rim 54 (FIGS. 4A and 4C) of the rotatable element 40and an edge of the proximal end 30 of the housing 20, while an aperture59 through the end 58 of the cap 56 may be configured to receive theproximal portion 50 of the rotatable element 40.

The cap 56 may, in some embodiments, be held in place on the proximalend 30 of the housing 20 by way of the proximal retention element 70, anembodiment of which is depicted in FIGS. 6A-6D. The proximal retentionelement 70 is configured to be coupled with the proximal portion 50(FIGS. 4A and 4C) of the rotatable element 40. More specifically, theproximal retention element 70 may have the appearance of a cap, with anopen distal end 72 and a receptacle 74 that are configured to receivethe proximal portion 50 of the rotatable element 40. In addition, at anopposite end of the receptacle 74 from the open distal end 72, theproximal retention element 70 may have a substantially closed proximalend 78.

The receptacle 74 may be configured to engage or to be engaged by theproximal portion 50 (FIGS. 4A and 4C) of the rotatable element 40. In aspecific embodiment, the receptacle 74 may include at least oneretention feature (not shown), such as a helical thread on an interiorsurface of the receptacle 74, configured to mutually engage acorresponding retention feature 52 of the proximal portion 50 of therotatable element 40.

An opening 79 may extend through the proximal end 78 of the proximalretention element 70. In some embodiments, such as that illustrated byFIGS. 6A-6D, the proximal retention element 70 and, in a particularembodiment, its opening 79 may be configured to receive and engage adevice that is to be rotated. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening79 through the proximal end 78 of the proximal retention element 70communicates with a conduit 82 of a male member 80. The male member 80extends through the receptacle 74 of the proximal retention element 70.When used with an embodiment of rotatable element 40 (FIGS. 4A-4C) thatincludes a conduit 55, the male member 80 of the proximal retentionelement 70 may be configured for insertion into the conduit 55.

In some embodiments, the proximal retention element 70 may be configuredto engage a device that is to be rotated, such as an elongated medicalinstrument, in a manner that causes the device to rotate as the proximalretention element 70 rotates. For example, and not to limit the scope ofthis disclosure, the surfaces that define the opening 79 through theproximal end 78 of the proximal retention element 70 may be configuredto lock onto, grasp, or engage a surface of the device. As anothernon-limiting example, the elongated retention element 70 may include oneor more features (e.g., a retention slot, a locking feature, etc.) thatcommunicate or are otherwise associated with the opening 79 through theproximal end 78 to enable selective locking, grasping, or otherengagement of the surface of the device that is to be rotated. In yetanother non-limiting example, the proximal retention element 70 may beconfigured to couple with a separate device (not shown) that locks onto,grasps, or otherwise engages the surface of the device that is to berotated.

The distal retention element 60, an embodiment of which is illustratedby FIGS. 7A-7C, may also have the general appearance of a cap, with anopen proximal end 62, an interior receptacle 64 that communicates withthe proximal end 62, and a substantially closed distal end 68. Theproximal end 62 and the receptacle 64 are configured to receive thedistal portion 42 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) of the rotatable element 40. In someembodiments, the receptacle 64 includes one or more retention features(not shown), which may be configured to mutually engage a correspondingretention feature 43 of the distal portion 42 of the rotatable element40, such as a helical thread carried by the surface 65 of the depictedreceptacle 64.

The distal end 68 of the distal retention element 60 may include anopening 69, which may be configured to receive a device that is to berotated, such as an elongated medical instrument. When such a distalretention element 60 is configured for assembly with an embodiment ofrotatable element 40 (FIGS. 4A-4C) that includes a conduit 55 extendingtherethrough, the opening 69 through the distal end 68 of the distalretention element 60 may be configured for alignment and/orcommunication with the conduit 55.

In addition to being configured to receive a device that is to berotated, some embodiments of distal retention elements 60 may beconfigured to lock onto, grasp, or otherwise engage, or at leastpartially engage, the device that is to be rotated. Without limiting thescope of this disclosure, a distal retention element 60 may include alocking element (not shown) at its distal end 68, external or internal(i.e., within the opening 69 in the distal end 68) threading, internalfeatures (e.g., ribs, etc.) that lock onto, grasp, or otherwise engagean outer surface of the device, other locking features, or the distalretention element 60 may be configured to couple with a separate device(not shown) that locks onto, grasps, or otherwise engages the surface ofthe device that is to be rotated.

Turning now to FIGS. 8A and 8G, an embodiment of an actuator 190 thatmay be used with the embodiments of the housing 20 and the rotatableelement 40 shown in FIGS. 4A-4C is illustrated. In particular, theactuator 190 may include a distal member 90 and a proximal member 120.

In the depicted embodiment, with added reference to FIG. 8B, the distalmember 90 of the actuator 190 comprises a cylindrical element 92 with anaperture 94 extending through its length. The aperture 94 is configuredto receive the rotatable element 40 (FIGS. 4A-4C) and, morespecifically, to receive the intermediate portion 45 of the rotatableelement 40, enabling the cylindrical element 92 of the distal member 90to slide, or move, along the length of the rotatable element 40, withoutengaging the rotation facilitator (e.g., the helical ridge 47, etc.) ofthe rotatable element 40.

The distal member 90 of the actuator 190 includes a pair of intermediateelements 98 protruding from opposite sides of the cylindrical element 92and external elements 97 on the ends of the intermediate elements 98.The intermediate elements 98 of the distal member 90 are capable ofbeing received by the longitudinal slot 34 through the housing 20 (FIG.3A). The external elements 97 are capable of protruding from the housing20 and being received by and coupling with corresponding features on amoveable element 102 of a handle 100 of the rooter 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2).Thus, the intermediate elements 98 and the external elements 97 of thedistal member 90 of the actuator 190 enable movement of the distalmember 90 of the actuator 190 along the length of the rotatable element40 (FIGS. 4A-4C).

At its proximal end 91, the distal member 90 of the actuator 190includes alignment features 99 and engagement features that compriseteeth 96. The alignment features 99 protrude beyond the proximal end 91of the distal member 90 and are spaced apart and configured (e.g.,tapered, etc.) to receive and align a proximal member 120 of theactuator 190 with the distal member 90. The teeth 96, which are formedin a proximal edge of the distal member 90, are configured to engagecorresponding engagement features of the proximal member 120.

As illustrated by FIGS. 8A and 8G, as well as by FIGS. 8C-8F, thosecorresponding engagement features of the proximal member 120 of theactuator 190 comprise teeth 126 formed in a distal edge 129 of theproximal member 120. In addition to the teeth 126, the proximal member120 includes a cylindrical element 122, an aperture 124 extendingthrough the cylindrical element 122, and one or more drive features 125formed in the surface of the aperture 124. In the specific embodimentshown in FIG. 8B, the drive features 125 may be configured to engage acorresponding rotation facilitator (e.g., the helical ridge 47, etc.) ofthe intermediate portion 45 of the rotatable element 40 (FIGS. 4A-4C).More specifically, the drive features 125 may engage the helical ridge47 of the intermediate portion 45 of a rotatable element 40.

The teeth 126 of the proximal member 120 and the teeth 96 of the distalmember 90 may be configured in such a way that the teeth 96 of thedistal member 90 will engage the teeth 126 of the proximal member 120 asthe distal member 90 is forced proximally, causing the rotatable element45 to rotate in a first direction, or in a forward direction (e.g.,clockwise), but enable the teeth 96 of the distal member 90 to disengagethe teeth 126 of the proximal member 120 as the proximal member 120 isforced distally (e.g., by a return element 101 (FIGS. 1 and 10) androtates in an opposite second direction, or in a reverse direction(e.g., counterclockwise), such as when resistance on a device that hasbeen coupled to the rotatable element 45 resists rotation in the seconddirection. In the illustrated embodiment, each tooth 96, 126 may includeradially oriented drive surface and a somewhat circumferentiallyoriented slip surface that tapers outward from the base of one drivesurface to the top of the next drive surface.

In some embodiments, such as that depicted by FIG. 1, a rooter 10 thatincorporates teachings may also include a return element 101, which isalso referred to herein as a “biasing element,” (e.g., a spring, etc.)that causes the actuator 190 (FIGS. 8A, 8G, 9, and 10) and the moveableelement 102 of the handle 100 to return to or substantially to aninitial position. When the moveable element 102 is moved in a firstdirection (e.g., proximally, etc.), energy may be stored in the returnelement 101. When the moveable element 102 is released, the resilienceof the return element 101, and the energy stored within the returnelement 101, may cause the actuator 190 and the moveable element 102 ofthe handle 100 to move in an opposite, second direction (e.g., distally,etc.) along the lengths of the housing 20 and the rotatable element 40of the rooter 10. As illustrated by FIG. 10, the return element 101 maycomprise an internal compression spring, which, in the depictedembodiment, is compressed between a proximal edge 121 of the cylindricalelement 122 of the proximal member 120 of the actuator 190 and aninterior surface of the end 58 of the cap 56 as the moveable element 102and, thus, the cylindrical element 122 of the proximal member 120 areforce proximally along the rotatable element 40 and the housing 20. Adistal end of the return element 101 abuts the proximal edge 121 of thecylindrical element 122 of the proximal member 120 of the actuator 190,while a proximal end of the return element 101 is held in place againstthe interior surface of the end 58 of the cap 56 (FIGS. 5A-5C). Thereturn element 101 concentrically surrounds the rotatable element 40 ofthe rooter 10.

Return elements 101 that are centered around the rotatable element 40,such as the compression spring embodiments of the return element 101shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, enable the cylindrical element 122 of theproximal member 120 of the actuator 190 to remain concentric orsubstantially concentric with the longitudinal axis 41 of the rotatableelement 40. Thus, such a return element 101 prevents cocking of theactuator 190 relative to the rotatable element 40 and facilitates smoothstrokes as the actuator 190 moves along the length of the rotatableelement 40. Of course, a rooter 10 may also include other embodiments ofreturn elements 101, including other types of internal springs, externalsprings (e.g., a torsion spring, which, in the embodiment depicted byFIG. 1, may be positioned between the moveable element 102 and theelongated handle 110 or equivalent features, etc.), the flexibility andresiliency of a connector 105 between bottom ends of the elongatedhandle 110 and the moveable element of the handle 100, and/or otherapparatus that will cause the actuator 190 to automatically reverse itsposition.

The automatic return of the actuator 190 to its initial position mayalso cause the rotatable element 40 to rotate in its opposite direction,provided that any rotational resistance on a device that has beencoupled to the coupling element 60 is not sufficient to overcome thebiasing force of the return element 101. In the event that rotationalresistance on the device is sufficient to overcome the biasing force ofthe return element 101, the proximal member 120 of the actuator 190 maydisengage the distal member 90 of the actuator 190, enabling the distalmember 90 to slide distally along the rotatable element 40 and theproximal member 120 to rotate freely relative to the rotatable element40.

Returning reference to FIG. 2, assembly of a rooter 10 that includes theabove-described elements may be accomplished by assembling the rotatableelement 40 and the actuator 190. The distal portion 42 of the rotatableelement 40 may be introduced into and through the apertures 94 and 124of the cylindrical elements 92 and 122 of the distal member 90 and theproximal member 120 of the actuator 190. As the rotatable element 40 ispushed distally through the aperture 124 of the cylindrical element 122of the proximal member 120, the drive features 125 of the proximalmember 120 may engage the helical ridge 47 that protrudes from the outersurface 46 of the intermediate portion 45 of the rotatable element 40.

Assembly of the housing 50 and the actuator 190 may include introductionof the cylindrical elements 92 (FIGS. 8A and 8G) and 122 (FIGS. 8A and8G) of the distal member 90 and the proximal member 120 of the actuator190 into the opening 32 at the proximal end 30 of the housing, with theintermediate element(s) 98 of the distal member 90 of the actuator 190located within the longitudinal slot(s) 34 through the housing 20. Themoveable element 102 of the handle 100 is, of course, located outside ofthe housing 20, and protrudes from the housing 20.

The distal portion 42 of the rotatable element 40 may be introduced intothe opening 32 at the proximal end 30 of the housing 20 to assemble therotatable element 40 with the housing 20. The distal portion 42 of therotatable element 40 is then moved distally through the interior 24 ofthe housing 20, until the distal portion 42 reaches the distal end 26 ofthe housing 20. The distal portion 42 of the rotatable element 40 maythen be introduced into and through the opening 28 in the distal end 26of the housing 20, until the distal portion 42 of the rotatable element40 protrudes from the distal end 26 of the housing 20.

With the distal portion 42 of the rotatable element 40 protruding fromthe distal end 26 of the housing 20, the longitudinal position of therotatable element 40 within the interior 24 of the housing 20 may befixed or substantially fixed by coupling the distal retention element 60to the distal portion 42 of the rotatable element 40.

When the housing 20 and the rotatable element 40 are assembled, theproximal portion 50 of the rotatable element 40 protrudes beyond theproximal end 30 of the housing 20. To hold the rotatable element 40 andthe actuator 190 within the interior 24 of the housing 20, the cap 56may then be placed over the proximal end 30 of the housing 20. Morespecifically, the receptacle 57 of the cap 56 may be positioned over theproximal end 30 of the housing 20. Additionally, the proximal portion 50of the rotatable element 40 may be aligned with the aperture 59 throughthe end 58 of the cap 56. As the cap 56 moves distally relative to thehousing 20 and the rotatable element 40, the proximal portion 50 of therotatable element 40 may be positioned around proximal portion 50 of therotatable element 40.

The cap 56 may be held in place relative to the proximal end 30 of thehousing 20 by coupling the proximal retention element 70 to theprotruding proximal portion 50 of the rotatable element 50.

Some embodiments of use of a rooter 10 according to this disclosure torotate devices, such as elongated medical instruments, and to performvarious procedures, including medical procedures, are disclosed. Sincethe rooter 10 may be configured to be used with a plurality of differenttypes of devices, it provides a user (e.g., a healthcare provider, etc.)with a great deal of flexibility in selecting a specific device withwhich he or she prefers to perform a certain procedure.

In use, a proximal end of device that is to be rotated may be introducedinto an opening 69 in the distal end 68 of the distal retention element60 of the rooter 10. When the device comprises a relatively shortdevice, insertion of the proximal end of the device into the opening 69may at least partially couple the device to the rooter 10 withoutinserting the device further into the rooter 10. In embodiments wherethe device comprises a longer device, its proximal end may be insertedonly into the opening 69 of the distal end 68 of the distal retentionelement 60, or the proximal end of the device may be inserted furtherinto the rooter 10. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, theproximal end of the device may also be pushed proximally through theconduit 55 of the rotatable element 40 of the rooter 10, and through theopening 79 through the proximal end 78 of the proximal retention element70 of the rooter 10.

With the device in place, it may be rotationally coupled to the rooter10. In embodiments where the distal retention element 60 and/or theproximal retention element 70 of the rooter 10 includes features thatlock onto, grasp, or otherwise engage a surface of the device that is tobe rotated, rotational coupling of the device to the rooter 10 occursduring assembly of the device with the rooter 10. In other embodiments,at least one separate locking device may be assembled with and lockonto, grasp, or otherwise engage the surface of the device that is to berotated, and each locking device may be coupled to the distal retentionelement 60 or the proximal retention element 70 of the rooter 10.Rotational coupling of the device to the distal retention element 60 orthe proximal retention element 70 may be effected in a manner thatcauses the device to rotate as the distal retention element 60 and/orthe proximal retention element 70 rotates.

Rotation of the device (e.g., about its longitudinal axis, etc.) may beeffected by causing the rotatable element 40, as well as the distalretention element 60 and/or the proximal retention element 70, to rotate(e.g., about longitudinal axis 41, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment,such rotation may be caused by moving the moveable element 102 of thehandle 100 of the rooter 10 along the length of the housing 20 of therooter 10. As the moveable element 102 is moved along the length of thehousing 20, the intermediate element 98 of the distal member 90 of theactuator 190 moves through the longitudinal slot 34 in the housing 20,which causes the cylindrical element 92 of the distal member 90 of theactuator 190 within the interior 24 of the housing to move along thelength of the rotatable element 40. As the cylindrical element 92 movesproximally along the length of the rotatable element 40, it forces thecylindrical element 122 of the proximal member 120 of the actuator 190to move proximally along the length of the rotatable element 40. As thecylindrical element 122 moves proximally, drive features 125 (FIG. 8C)on or in the interior surface of the aperture 124 of the cylindricalelement 122 may engage the complementarily configured rotationfacilitator 47 of the rotatable element 40 (e.g., the depicted helicalridge, etc.). The configurations of the longitudinal slot 34 and theactuator 190 (specifically, the intermediate element(s) 98 of the distalmember 90) may prevent rotation of the cylindrical element 92 of thedistal member 90 within the interior 24 of the housing 20, or at leastenable the rotatable element 40 to rotate relative to the housing 20.During rotation of the rotatable element 40, one or both of the distalretention element 60 and the proximal retention element 70 to rotaterelative to the housing 20, which rotation may also cause the devicethat is to be rotated to spin relative to the housing 20 of the rooter10. If the rooter 10 is held stationary, or at least substantiallystationary, movement of the moveable element 102 of the handle 100 ofthe rooter 10 may cause the device to rotate or spin. In otherembodiments, the rooter 10 may be used to rotationally oscillate thedevice, which may enhance the performance of the device. As an example,oscillation of a device may cause some vibration or quivering of thedevice, which may reduce friction during use of the device.

Rotation or oscillation of the device may be effected during orseparately from longitudinal movement (e.g., distal movement, proximalmovement, back-and-forth movement, etc.), or hammering movement, of thedevice. Conversely, hammering movement of a device may be effected withour without rotation or oscillation of the device.

When the proximal end of a tubular device is accessible from orproximally beyond the proximal end of the rooter 10 (e.g., beyond theproximal end 78 of the proximal retention element 70 of the rooter 10,etc.), other activities (e.g., aspiration, infusion, introduction ofother elongated medical instruments, etc.) may be effected through thetubular device while it is assembled with the rooter 10 and, in someembodiments, as the tubular device is rotated, spun, or oscillated.

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of any of the appended claims,but merely as providing information pertinent to some specificembodiments that may fall within the scopes of the disclosed subjectmatter the appended claims. Other embodiments may also be devised whichlie within the scopes of the appended claims. Features from differentembodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of each claim is,therefore, indicated and limited only by its plain language and thelegal equivalents to the claim elements. All additions, deletions andmodifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within themeaning and scopes of the claims are to be embraced thereby.

What is claimed:
 1. A rooter, comprising: a rotatable element having alongitudinal axis and a length and including: a rotation feature; anactuator, including: a proximal member movable along the length of therotatable element and including: a drive feature complementary to therotation feature of the rotatable element; and at least one proximalengagement feature; and a distal member movable along the length of therotatable element and including: at least one distal engagement featurethat complements the at least one proximal engagement feature of theproximal member, the at least one distal engagement feature having: anengaged arrangement in which the at least one distal engagement featureengages the at least one proximal engagement feature in a manner thatprevents rotation of the proximal member about the longitudinal axis ofthe rotatable element; and a disengaged arrangement in which the atleast one distal engagement feature permits the proximal element torotate about the longitudinal axis of the rotatable element.
 2. Therooter of claim 1, wherein the engaged arrangement of the at least onedistal engagement feature of the distal member of the actuator enablesthe drive feature of the proximal member of the actuator to engage therotation feature of the rotatable element in a manner that causes therotatable element to rotate as the proximal member moves along thelength of the rotatable element.
 3. The rooter of claim 1, wherein theat least one distal engagement feature of the distal member of theactuator can only be in the engaged arrangement when the distal memberpushes the proximal member of the actuator proximally along the lengthof the rotatable element.
 4. The rooter of claim 1, wherein thedisengaged arrangement of the at least one distal engagement feature ofthe distal member of the actuator enables the drive feature of theproximal member of the actuator to engage the rotation feature of therotatable element in a manner that enables the proximal member to movealong the length of the rotatable element without rotating the rotatableelement.
 5. The rooter of claim 3, wherein the disengaged arrangement ofthe at least one distal engagement feature of the distal member of theactuator enables the drive feature of the proximal member of theactuator to engage the rotation feature of the rotatable element in amanner that enables the proximal member to move distally along thelength of the rotatable element without rotating the rotatable element.6. The rooter of claim 1, wherein the rotation feature of the rotatableelement comprises a helical ridge that protrudes from the rotatableelement.
 7. The rooter of claim 1, wherein the rotatable elementincludes a coupling element.
 8. The rooter of claim 7, wherein thecoupling element includes a medical device engagement feature.
 9. Arooter, comprising: a rotatable element; and an actuator that causes therotatable element to rotate, the actuator including: a distal memberthat slides over the rotatable element without driving rotation of therotatable element, the distal member including engagement features at aproximal side thereof; and a proximal member that drives rotation of therotatable element in a first direction, the proximal member includingengagement features at a distal side thereof that: engage the engagementfeatures of the distal member to hold the proximal member to hold therotatable element rotationally stationary to rotate the rotatableelement in a second direction upon encountering less than a thresholdresistance in rotating the proximal member in the second direction toenable movement of the proximal member distally along the rotatableelement to drive rotation of the rotatable element in the seconddirection, disengage the engagement features of the distal member toenable the proximal member to rotate about the rotatable element uponencountering at least the threshold resistance in rotating the rotatableelement in the second direction to enable the proximal member to rotateabout the rotatable element as the proximal member moves distally alongthe rotatable element.
 10. The rooter of claim 9, wherein the engagementfeatures of the distal member engage the engagement features of theproximal member as the distal member is forced proximally to hold theproximal member rotationally stationary and to enable the proximalmember to engage the rotatable element in a manner that drives rotationof the rotatable element in the first direction.
 11. The rooter of claim9, further comprising: a moveable element of a handle coupled to thedistal member of the actuator to force the distal member proximally overthe rotatable element and cause the engagement features of the distalmember to engage the engagement features of the proximal member to holdthe proximal member rotationally stationary while forcing the proximalmember proximally over the rotatable element to drive rotation of therotatable element in the first direction.
 12. The rooter of claim 9,further comprising: a biasing member that exerts a distally orientedforce on the proximal member.
 13. The rooter of claim 9, furthercomprising: a biasing member that forces the proximal member distally.14. The rooter of claim 13, wherein the biasing member comprises acoiled spring with: a distal end abutting a proximal end of the proximalmember of the actuator, an intermediate portion surrounding a portion ofthe rotatable element located proximal to the proximal end of theproximal member, and a proximal end held at a fixed location.
 15. Therooter of claim 9, wherein the engagement features of the distal memberof the actuator and the engagement features of the proximal member ofthe actuator comprise cooperating teeth.
 16. The rooter of claim 15,wherein: teeth of the distal member of the actuator are arranged in acircle on a proximal end of the distal member; and teeth of the proximalmember of the actuator are arranged in a circle on a distal end of theproximal member.
 17. The rooter of claim 16, wherein each tooth of thecooperating teeth includes: a drive surface oriented radially to holdthe proximal member of the actuator rotationally stationary when thedistal member forces the proximal member proximally along the rotatableelement to drive rotation of the rotatable element in the firstdirection; and a slip surface tapering outward from a base of the drivesurface to enable the teeth of the proximal member to disengage theteeth of the distal member to enable rotation of the proximal memberabout the rotatable element and movement of the proximal member distallyalong the rotatable element when the rotatable element resists rotationin the second direction.
 18. The rooter of claim 9, further comprising:a housing carrying the rotatable element.